In Part 2 you choose between an article and a story. The article task is an announcement from a magazine, a website or a school noticeboard that asks readers a few questions about a topic. Your article answers all of them.
Your readers are people your age, so write in a lively, friendly way. Share your own opinions and experiences, talk to the reader directly and make them want to read to the end.
The announcement usually asks two or three questions, sometimes with a Why? at the end. Each one is a content point. Find them all before you plan, and make every answer easy to spot.
A why question needs a reason, not just an answer. "I love summer" is half an answer; "I love summer because the days are long and there's no school" is a complete one.
Nobody has to read a magazine article, so catch their attention from the first line. A short, catchy title helps, and so does an opening question (Have you ever...?), a surprising fact or a strong opinion.
End in the same spirit: a final thought, a piece of advice or a question that leaves the reader thinking.
Write as if you were chatting to a classmate. Use you, ask questions, add the odd exclamation and a quick personal example. Contractions like it's and I've are fine. Keep it natural, and leave out slang and text-speak.
A clear article has a title, a short introduction, one paragraph for each question and a closing line. Begin each paragraph with its main idea so the reader always knows what it's about.
Inside the paragraphs, link your ideas with because, so, also, for example, however and what's more.
The examiner looks for range, not only accuracy. Include a few different structures: the present perfect (I've always loved...), comparatives (much better than), a conditional (If you get the chance, ...), and topic words instead of nice and good.
Four criteria: Content (every question answered), Communicative Achievement (does it read like a magazine article that holds the reader's interest?), Organisation (paragraphs and linking) and Language (range and accuracy).
Watch out for the usual traps: no title, a question forgotten, a story instead of an article, or a flat list of answers with no personality.
You see this notice on an English-language website: "Your favourite place to relax. Where do you like to go to relax? What do you do there, and who with? Why is it special to you?" Write an article answering these questions.
My Favourite Escape Where do you go when you need a break from homework and screens? For me, the answer is easy: the small beach at the end of my street. I usually go there on Sunday afternoons with my best friend, Leo. We take a football, some snacks and a book each. Sometimes we play for hours, and sometimes we just sit on the rocks and chat. Why is it so special? It's quiet, even in summer, and the sunsets are amazing. I've been going there since I was little, so it's full of happy memories. If you haven't got a place like this, find one. It's the best way to relax!
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